Parkinson's Organizations Unite to Serve Patients and Families Through National "Partners in Parkinson's" Initiative

NEW YORK, July 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Parkinson's organizations are working together to help provide Parkinson's patients and caregivers with knowledge and support to optimize their care through the "Partners in Parkinson's" strategic health initiative launched by The Michael J. Fox Foundation and AbbVie.

Partners in Parkinson's offers Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and caregivers virtual and face-to-face opportunities to connect with knowledge, tools and support to optimize care from diagnosis through advanced stages of disease.

The Davis Phinney Foundation (DPF), which has gained the trust and respect of countless people with Parkinson's through its popular The Victory Summit® symposium series and other programs designed to help people with Parkinson's to live well today, will serve as National Presenting Partner. The Davis Phinney Foundation signed on in early 2014, lending its expertise in helping patients live well holistically with Parkinson's disease. As National Presenting Partner, the DPF will lead a breakout session on "Living Well with Parkinson's: A Holistic Approach That Can Benefit You Today and Tomorrow" at each of 11 Partners in Parkinson's events taking place across the United States in 2014. The session will encourage patients to define immediate action steps that may have long-term benefits — including adopting a more active lifestyle and defining a routine to fuel mind and body.

"The Davis Phinney Foundation is committed to empowering the Parkinson's community to take a proactive role in their care, positively impacting their own outcomes and the lives of those around them," said Polly Dawkins, executive director, The Davis Phinney Foundation. "Collaborating with MJFF, AbbVie and other Parkinson's groups allows the Davis Phinney Foundation to spread our message of holistic wellness as well as share the resources we provide to help people living with Parkinson's disease to live well today. It also shows the community our organizations' shared commitment to improving the quality of life for Parkinson's families at every stage of this disease."

Partners in Parkinson's also will benefit from the contributions of other national Parkinson's organizations including The Parkinson's Action Network (PAN). As a National Participating Partner, PAN will be present to discuss Parkinson's related policy issues in the resource fair at each event this year. Additionally, Partners in Parkinson's will continue to work with locally-based organizations for each event. These Partners, from communities across the country, will team up with the program to connect Parkinson's patients with resources in their own backyard.

"The action-oriented and optimistic messages of The Davis Phinney Foundation and the Parkinson's Action Network are a natural fit for the Partners in Parkinson's program, which aims to provide a wealth of tools and resources to help patients and families live their best lives with Parkinson's," says Todd Sherer, PhD, chief executive officer of The Michael J. Fox Foundation

About Partners in Parkinson'sThe Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and AbbVie developed Partners in Parkinson's to fill in knowledge gaps by providing new educational tools and resources for the Parkinson's community. The initiative features a comprehensive, educational website with the first online tool to locate a movement disorder specialist, a downloadable Parkinson's disease guide and the opportunity to connect with an AbbVie Parkinson's Disease Advocate for one-on-one support. The program is also designed to connect patients and their families with healthcare and support resources in their own community and will host full-day educational events and resource fairs across the United States. To learn more about the program visit the website: www.partnersinparkinsons.org.

About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's ResearchAs the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding more than $450 million in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world.

About AbbVieAbbVie is a global, research-based biopharmaceutical company formed in 2013 following separation from Abbott Laboratories. The company's mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to develop and market advanced therapies that address some of the world's most complex and serious diseases. AbbVie employs approximately 25,000 people worldwide and markets medicines in more than 170 countries. For further information on the company and its people, portfolio and commitments, please visit www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter or view careers on our Facebook or LinkedIn page.

Davis Phinney FoundationThe Davis Phinney Foundation was created in 2004 to help people with Parkinson's disease live well today. Its major initiatives include: the Every Victory Counts® manual, developed by movement disorder experts to provide practical ways to live well with Parkinson's; The Victory Summit® symposia series, which brings experts into communities to share advances in science, care and to inspire those affected by the disease to take action; the Living Well Challenge™ educational webinar series; the "Parkinson's Exercise Essentials" DVD and, the funding of research focused on exercise, speech and other quality of life therapies. Learn more about the Davis Phinney Foundation at: www.davisphinneyfoundation.org.

About The Parkinson's Action NetworkPAN is the unified voice of the Parkinson's community advocating for better treatments and a cure. In partnership with other Parkinson's organizations and our powerful grassroots network, PAN educates the public and government leaders on better policies for research and an improved quality of life for people living with Parkinson's. PAN was founded in 1991 and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To learn more, visit www.ParkinsonsAction.org.